Baluster and railing structure



Feh l7, 1925i 1,526,638

A G. T. KNIGHT BALUSTER AND RAILING STRUCTURE Filed June 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR George T. Knight MM/M ATTO B N EY Feb. 17,1925. 1 1,526,638 G. T. KNIGHT BALUSTER AND RAILING STRUCTURE Filed JunEL- 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Geovge T. Knig ht WWMM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

, UNITED STATES GEORGE T. KNIGHT, F MEAFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA.

BALUSTER AND RAILING STRUCTURE.

Application filed. June 2, 1923.

,-; To all 1072 am it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE T. KNIGHT, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and resident of Meaford, in the county of Grey and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baluster and Railing Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in balusters and railing structure particularly for verandas.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a baluster and railing structure of the knock down type and which will be 1 composed-of the minimum number of interlocking members which are manufactured in finished form and ready for assembling by removable connecting and securing members without injury to the parts.

The invention has for another object the provision of a baluster and railing structure of improved type and in which all of the parts may be produced at small expense and finished separately for assembling when building up the baluster and railing structure of desired size and length.

7 A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a baluster and railing structure of the character stated in which the baluster or corner post is manufactured in reinforced and finished sections and the upper and lower rails also constructed in longitudinal sections adapted to have locked therein the ends of the spindles employed between the main posts or balusters.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a baluster and railing structure of the character stated with the parts constructed and arranged for inter- "lockingin such a manner that they may be readily assembled or taken apart as desired and worn or broken parts replaced without the necessity of taking downv the entire structure.

With the foregoing and other objects in Serial No. 643,115.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the main baluster 01' corner post.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section, substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail section sul stantially on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective of one of the attaching brackets employed for attaching the railings to the main baluster or corner post.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the main baluster or corner post.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective, showing the corner construction of the frame member forming the water table of the main baluster or corner post.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective showing the construction of the false postand the connection of the railing with the same.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the rear side of the false post and its connection with the railings.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it will be noted that the main baluster or corner post 11 is formed in sections, the main section being of rectangular form in cross section and composed ofsido members having beveled longitudinal edges 12 connected together by the vertical corner strips 13 which extend the entire length of the main section, as will be seen from Fig. 7 which discloses the corner strips 13 as extending through the reduced lower portion 11 of the main section. A base section 1% is also provided to receive the reduced lower end 11 of the main section of the post 11, as shown in Fig. 2, after the reduced lower end 11 has been extended through the frame member 15 forming the water table of the main baluster or corner post and resting on the top of the base section, with the outer edge of the frame member 15 extended past the base, section let and the upper face of the frame member 15 slightly beveled so as to shed or carry off the water falling upon the same. It will be seen from Fig. 2, that the The base section 14 is alsoformed of side shoulder 16 provided at'the connection "of the reduced lower end 11 with the main portionof themain section of the'post '11" rests upon the upper face ofthe-frame'member 15 when the post sections are assembled.

members having their longitudinal edges 17 beveled and connected with-one another by the corner strips 18, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. ikneiveljcap 19 is mounted on the top of the main's'ec'tion of the post 11 and other isup'poit24 to receivethe hook-22 after the turning'of'the rod 21-.an'd' drawing of the rod 21 upwardly through the newel "cap T-he r'od' 21 has erhreaaedupper end 25 which reeeives a wing nut 26 or the like operating 01'1- a bearing washer 28 positioned around the rod 21 andresting in' the pocket floor or other support '24.

2'7 'provi'd ed for t'his 'purpose in the upper si deofthenewel cap 19. Itwillbe'evident that 'bytightening the wing nut '26 on the rod" 21, the parts of'the main balus'ter 'or corner post 11 will be drawn together and tightened on one another and also the main ba'lustei "oi "corner post 11 tightened on" the r I V The ne'wel cap 19 has 'its Fun'der face rounded or 'convexed and-is completed by the fr-mm 29' secured on the upper face-thereof a nd --11a-ang its upper face beveled, as shown clearly in, Figs; 1

and 2. I The cap plate 30 forming t'he'top of the main 'ba'lusteror earner post ll' is sethe frame: *in'en'iberf15 is forihed 0 f sections having ahgiila'rly cut en'd's '1 5 conne cted t'ogether by the 'fia't triangular plates 15 "extending "into adj ate-n11; ends ofth'e sections of the 'fraine member 15 and resting inthe' pockets 15 p'rov1ded in said section for this purpose.

TIIefalseEpost sasho'wn an Figs. 9 an 10",

may be: readily secured to a wall or the like only inthe "farm of aplat'ej"Extending'froni thefi n'ai'n baluster or'corner post- 11 to the I falsepost 33 fareth'eSupp'er railing-'34 a'ndthe lowe'r 1'a1lrng-85'wh1ch are forni'ed In longr tudinalj'sec tions, as will be described in detail and are eonaeaea by the auxiliary longitudinal e -tl'1e'draw1ngs, or being finished 1n any suitba luster'p0sts36. The upper railing '34 includes afillet or core 37 onwhich the top plate 38 is secured by screws 89 or other suitable means the't'op'jplate 38 having its dges 40 rounded, as shown in able manner desired. Side plates 41 are secured to opposite sides of the fillet or core 37 by screws 42 or other suitable means and the top 38 is of a propel-"width to'extend past the'si'de plat'es'41. 'As shown clearly inthe drawings,'the fillet or core 37has a rounded bottom side'43 extendedtoieither side and 1 projecting over the loweredges of the side plates 41. Pockets 44: are "provided in the; fillet or'fc'ore 37 to receivethe dove tailed upperends 45 of the 'auxiliary"balus'ters 36 and the side plates 41 are provided with longitudinal pockets 46"which are of substantially *V shap'ed rotin cross section so as to receive the dovetailed upper 'en'ds4'5 of the auxiliary'balusters'36. Thi's'hiay be cl'early'understood by referring't'o Figs. 3 and'4 of the drawings.

The dovetailed lower ends 47 "of the auxiliary balusters "36 rest in pockets 48 provided in the upper sides of the fillet or'core 49'of the'lower rail structure 35. Side plates 50 are secured on'op'pos'ite sides of i the fillet "01- 'core 49 by screws "51 'or the like so 'that'they may be. readily removed, asidesiredp Longitudinal pockets or grooves 52 are provided in the side plates 50 to accommodatethe dovetailed lower ends 47"0f the auxiliary balu'sters SS-and preventwithdrawal of the same fromthepockets47 when the side plates pare iir'p'osition. The rounded upper side 53 ofthe'filletor core 49 is extended -'to either side -and engaged oveFthe-upper edges orehe side plates 50, between the "auxiliary balusters 36 when the partsotthe lower railing structure are "asseiiible'd. The upper-anddower railing struc- V ture's are removably seclired to the false posts 33 by screwsor 'other'suitable securingin'le'mbers 53, asshown in Fig. 10. The serews 53 extend through theffalse post '33 and into the'top plate-38 ofthe upper rail structure34 andfinto the side plates 50 .of the lower railing structure This, however, may be altered as desired. 5 The -upper rail striicture34issecuredto onesideof the maindoalh'ster orcc iriiei post 11 "byahgular brackets 54 reniovahly secured to the main bal'ust'er *o'r cornerpost -'1 1 and" to the side plates 41, a s shown inf Fig. 1 of t'he dr'awiiigs. It will also besee'n from this View that similar engular' bmekets 54'are en1- pl'dyed'to detachably "connect the lower railing "structure 35 "with the main ha-luster or corner post 11. These last' -inentioned angular brackets 54 are' detachablymouiited onthe side 'plates 50, of the lower railing structure-'35 and oathe base seetibn 14' of the main baluster or corner post 11.

lllt) In Fig. 1 of the drawings the main baluster or corner post 11 is illustrated as being located at the top of the flight of steps 55, at the sides of which are located inclined railings constructed along the same principle as the horizontal railings, which have been described in detail. The upper railing structure 56 and the lower railing structure 57 correspond respectively to the upper railing structure 34- and the lower railing structure 35 extended between the main baluster or corner post 11 and the false post The upper railing structure 56 and lower railing structure 57, however, are inclined and the upper and lower ends "of the auxiliary balusters 58 employed in the inclined railing are beveled or cut 011 an angle. The dovetailed upper and lower ends 59 of the auxiliary balusters 58 are also beveled or cut on an angle so as to permit the auxiliary balusters 58 to be positioned in vertical planes. lVith the exception of the differences in the formation of the upper and lower ends 59 of the auxiliary balusters 58 they correspond with the construction of the auxiliary balusters 36. It is also to be understood that the pockets provided for the dovetailed upper and lower ends 59 of the auxiliary balusters in the upper and lower rail structures 56 and 57 are cut at the proper angle in the fillets or cores 60 and 61 of the upper rail structure 56 and the lower rail structure 57, respectively. Screws 62 or other appropriate fastening members are employed to detachably connect the parts of the upper rail structure 56 and the lower rail structure 57. In order that the inclined railing may be readily attached to or removed from the main baluster or post 11, angular bracket plates 63 are carried on the side walls til and 65 of the upper rail structure 56 and the lower rail structure 57, respectively. Notches 66 are provided in the free angular ends 67 of the angular brackets 63 for detachable engagement over the projecting supporting screws 68 or similar members projected from the side of the main baluster or corner post 11.

One pair of the supporting screws 68 is carried by the upper part of the main section of the main baluster or corner post 11, while the other pair extends from the base section let. It will, therefore, be seen that the inclined railing may be readily secured in position or removed without the necessity of tak ing apart the sections of the same.

It is believed the complete construction and arrangen'ient of the elements of the present invention may now be clearly understood from the foregoing paragraphs taken in connection with the accompanying drawings without further detail description. It may be briefly stated, however, that all of the parts or elements may be manufactured separately and may be transported in separated or knock down condition, ready for assembling, as desired. It is also evident that the structure may be readily taken apart and elements or parts of the invention replaced without the necessity of employing special tools and the service of a trained workman, furthermore the entire structure may be taken apart and transported for assembling in a different locality at small expense and without injury or damage to any of the parts or elements of the invention.

lVhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating elements may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim as new is:

1. A baluster and railing structure formed from separate members detachably connected and interlocked with one another; the upper and lower rails including cores having pockets formed therein and side plates removably secured on said cores; the auxiliary balusters including dovetailed ends removably engaged in the pockets of said cores; said side plates being formed to receive portions of said dovetailed ends of the auxiliary balusters and prevent withdrawal of the same from said cores when the side plates are in position on said cores; said cores having means thereon to extend over the upper edges of said side plates; said upper and lower rails being removably secured on the main baluster and other supporting members opposed to said main baluster.

2. A baluster and railing structure built up from completed parts detachahly connected to form the railings, the main baluster and the auxiliary balusters; the upper and lower rails including cores having pockets formed therein and side plates removably secured on said cores; the auxiliary balusters including dovetailed ends removably engaged in the pockets of said cores; said side plates being formed to receive portions of said dovetailed ends of the auxiliary balusters and prevent withdrawal of the same from said cores when the side plates are in position on said cores; said cores having means thereon to extend over the upper edges of said plates: said upper and lower rails being removably secured on the main baluster and other supporting members opposed to said main baluster.

3. A baluster and railing structure built up from separable elements detachably connected to form the railings, the main baluster and the auxiliary balusters connecting the upper and lower railings; the upper and lower rails including cores having llll pockets formedtherein and side, plates removably-secured on said cores; the auxiliary balusters including 1 dovetailed ends -remov.-. ablyvenga'ged in-;'the pockets Of' SLldjCOIBS; said side plates beingformed to receive portionsz oi said-dovetailed zends of the auxilir arybalusters and prevent Withdrawal: of the same from said: cores when the side; plates arein 'positionnon' said cores; saidfcores having means thereon to extend over the upper edges ot-said side plates said upper and lower rails being removably securedi'on the main baluster and "otherxsupporting members opposed to said: inainbaluster.

4. lh 'ba'luster and railing structure formed from separate-"members detachably. connect: ed and interlocked Wlth'OIlG another; the mainbalusterwbeing composed of sections interlocking with one-another and 1 means for securely holding together: the; sections of the main baluster 'and -retaining the-main baluster firmly "on its "foundation the upper andclower-rails 'inclu'ding cores having; pockets formed therein and side plates removably secured/on said cores; the-auxi-liary baluste'rs including;dovetailed ends removably engaged *in the pockets of saidcorespsaid side plates being formed to'receive portions of said-dovetailed ends of the auxiliary balusters and prevent Withdrawal 40f the same fromsa-id cores-When the side-plates are imposition on said cores psaid :cores having means thereon to extend over the per edges .of-said side plates; said upper and-lower rails :beingrernova'bly secured on the main -ba luster r and other: supporting members opposed to :saidtmain baliuster.

' 5. A lbaluster and railing structurebuilt up from completed parts detachably: connected to form the railings, the main baluster and the auxiliary balusters the main baluster being composed of sections interlocking: with oneanother; and means "for securely holding together. the sectlons of the formedthereinand side plates. removablv secured on saidq cores 5- .the auxiliary. balusters including dovetailed ends rernovably ,engaged in the pocket of said cores; said s de} plates being formed to receive portions ofzsaid dovetailed ends of the auxiliary halustersand prevent Withdrawal of the same from said coreswhen-the side plates are inposition-on said cores said cores havmeans thereon-to extendover. the upper edges-oi aid side plates; said upper -and lower rails being removably secured on the main baluster: and other supporting members'opposed to said-main baluster.

16. Abaluster and railing structure built up ironrseparable elements detachably conneetedtoiorm the railings, the main balusten and the auxiliary balusters 1 connecting the-upper and lower railings; the main balusteri'being;composed of sections interlocl ing vith one another; and means for secu-rely holding together the sections of the main :zbaluster and retaining the nuain baluster-firmly on its foundation the upper and lower 1 rails including cores having pockets" formed therein and side plates :rernove ably secured on said cores; the axiliary bal-' usters including dovetailed ends removably engaged .in'the pockets of said cores; said side plates being formed to receiveportions of saiddonetailed ends of the auxiliary balusters eand prevent withdrawal of the same from said cores when the side plates are in position on said cores; said coreshaving means thereon to extend over the upper edges of said side plate; said upper and lowerrztils being removably secured on the main-baluster and other supporting members opposedto said main baluster.

' In testimony whereof, Iaffix'my signature.

GEORGE T. KNIGHT- V 

